#MEET THE TEAM
Our team members
The MENTA team understand business. With first-hand experience of running successful businesses of their own, our team are driven by the desire to help you realise your full potential and succeed in your industry.
Alex Till
Chief Executive
As MENTA’s CEO, Alex has a passion for business. He is inspired by meeting entrepreneurial and creative people, and is driven to build on Suffolk and Norfolk's success and national recognition as a thriving area to live and work.
John Neild
Head of Enterprise and Programmes
A former Head of Learning Curriculum for RBS, John now leads our enterprise and business start-up team. He is a key contact in business relationships across Norfolk and Suffolk, and is energised by supporting the region’s entrepreneurial community.
Gina Savage
Commercial Sales Manager
Gina has an extensive background in the commercial sector working with international brands and delivering to clients in the aviation, hospitality and media sectors. Her role includes developing commercial relationships with key customers and partners across Norfolk and Suffolk.
Paul Vella
Head of Property
Paul is based at our Haverhill business centre and is passionate about the future of business in the town. He is eager to play a part in ensuring the success stories of local businesses, providing advice that is practical and forward thinking.
Shaun Lowthorpe
Business Trainer
A former journalist and business editor with regional media group Archant Business, Shaun has a longstanding interest in supporting local businesses and is passionate about helping people turn their dreams into reality.
Sarah Faers
Head of Finance
Sarah thrives on the day-to-day management of MENTA’s financial operations, ensuring the team are best prepared to perform their duties across all operations of the business.
Penny Rush
Executive Assistant to Alex Till
An experienced Executive Assistant Penny supports Alex across all aspects of the business including HR and Board administration. Her background in start-up and venture capital is an ongoing passion for her with MENTA.
Pauline Prockter
Business Adviser
As a mentor, coach and business adviser, Pauline has helped high-performing businesses grow and achieve their ambitions with clarity and realism. She has worked across a variety of sectors in Government-funded initiatives.
Tim Cooke
Learning Development Manager – Programmes
Tim brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in business management, leadership, sales and service gained from many leadership roles across a variety of business areas in the last 37 years plus. Tim is developing and delivering current and topical learning programmes to help you lead and run your business more effectively and make the difference to you, your business, your employees and your customers.
Monica Bell
Business Adviser
Monica delivers support services to clients of our refugee entrepreneurship project. Working across the East of England with one-to-one advice and business support.
John Clarke
Business Trainer
John is a professional, highly-experienced trainer, with 25 years’ experience in commercial banking. His relaxed presentation style proves popular with delegates who regularly comment on his wide-ranging knowledge.
Emma Harrison
ERDF Administrator
With an administrative, co-ordination and project support background, Emma provides assistance for the ERDF Project and other activities within the organisation to support MENTA colleagues and clients.
Rachael Lawrance
Programme Co-ordinator
For Rachael, her role is about the finer details, providing high-level administrative and project support to her colleagues across the county as well as overseeing MENTA’s supplier contracts.
Maggie Kinnear-King
Programme Co-ordinator
Maggie provides administrative support for various MENTA projects and business activities. She particularly enjoys assisting colleagues with research, as well as helping clients as they start and develop their businesses.
Sue Hall
Business Adviser
Sue brings a wealth of business experience, working with clients to help their business ambitions become a reality.
Yvonne Martin
Business Centre Co-ordinator
Yvonne has a wealth of customer service experience. You will find her at our Bury St Edmunds business centre, where she brings passion for the delivery of excellent customer service, and is always welcoming and ready to help.
Mary Spurling
Business Centre Coordinator
Mary fulfils an integral role in the day-to-day running of MENTA Bury St Edmunds. She is responsible for ensuring all business centre operations run as smoothly as possible for colleagues, partners and clients.
Jo Garden
Business Trainer
Enterprise and enterprising people are at the heart of Jo’s role at MENTA. Her knowledge and experience are not from a book or university degree, but from more than 20 years running her own businesses.
Phil Pethybridge
MENTA Business Show Producer
With masses of events experience across Europe and the UK, Phil is able to build effective relationships with sponsors, exhibitors, visitors and speakers to ensure the MENTA business show is a fantastic experience for all attending.
Nick Pandolfi
Marketing Manager
Nick hosts numerous networking events across Suffolk as well as overseeing marketing, PR and branding strategy for MENTA. Nick is a MENTA coach delivering his valuable insight into the world of broadcast media and content marketing.
